388 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The gill nets carried by the vessels are of various lengths, varying 

 from 200 to 720 feet, the average being about oOO feet. The depth is 

 6 feet, the usual mesh 4^ inches. The number of nets used by each 

 vessel varies from 300 to 000, and tlie quantity of netting operated by 

 each is 10 to 50 miles in length. Fishing continues during the season 

 of open water, and may be carried on, with slight intermissions, from 

 January 1 to December 31. Usually, however, the season does not 

 begin till March or April. 



The vessel catch consists of trout, common whitelish, blackfins, long- 

 jaws, herring, and a few miuor fishes, blackfins, longjaws, and trout 

 predominating. In 1890 tbe amount of stock of vessels which fished 

 regularly was from §('.,000 to 813,00!) each. 



round nets to the number of 814 were operated in Lake Michigan in 

 1890; they had a value of $244,880. They were distributed among the 

 four States bordering on the lake as follows: Michigan, 552; "Wiscon- 

 sin, 250; Indiana, 32, and Illinois, 10. The counties having the largest 

 numbers of such nets were Delta, Mackinac, Manitou, and Schoolcraft 

 in Michigan, and Door and Oconto in Wisconsin. Mackinac and 

 Oconto counties, which lead in the item of i)ound nets in their respec- 

 tive States, each had 111 nets, although the catch of these counties 

 w^as less valuable than in Delta County in Michigan or in Door 

 County in Wisconsin. 



The preeminent fish in the pound-net fishery of this lake are white-^ 

 fish, which constitute nearly one-third the quantity and more than 

 one-third the value of the pound-net (;atch. Lake herring rank next 

 in point of quantity, but trout as regards value. Sturgeon are of con- 

 siderable importance, as are also perch, suclc,ers, and pike perch. The 

 total pound-net catch was about 8,785,000 pounds, having a value to 

 the fishermen of $270,000. 



Fyke nets are employed in considerable numbers in three counties in 

 Wisconsin, but are unimportant in other parts of this lake. Of the 731 

 used in 1890, 524 were owned in Brown County, 90 in Door County, and 

 95 in Oconto County, Wis. The sp<xies taken in fyke nets are chiefly 

 lake herring, perch, suckers, and pike. The whole catch consisted of 

 about 1,311,000 pounds, having a value to the fishermen of $25,560. 



Seines are sparingly used, principally in the cai)ture of perch, suckers, 

 and pike. They are found in seven counties bordering on the lake, but 

 are most numerous in Delta County, Mich., and Brown County, Wis., 

 where more than half of the total number employed are owned. 



Set lines or hand lines are fished in most of the counties on this 

 lake. Much of the fishing is done in the winter, but there are also con- 

 siderable quantities of set lines and troll lines used during the season 

 of open weather. The principal part of the catch consists of sturgeon, 

 perch, trout, and bass. The most important fisheries thus carried on are 

 in the more northern parts of the lake. The counties having noticeably 

 important line fishing are Brown, Keewaunee, and Oconto counties, 



